Resources: Page 3

Forty-fourth Edition

September 25, 2017

A report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows enrollment in American postsecondary institutions is expected to increase 15 percent from 2014 to 2025, with larger proportional increases among adult than traditional-age students, women than men, graduate students than undergraduates, and minority students than white students.

A report from the Community College Research Center suggests that dual-enrollment students are more likely to graduate college and to do so sooner. But just taking college courses, especially for low-income students, isn’t enough, the study notes.

Where Students Get Advice On What to Study in College

September 21, 2017

Students’ chosen fields of study have important implications for their livelihoods, but little is known about how and why students actually select certain majors. This report from Gallup and Strada Education Network explores one aspect of how individuals choose a field to study, which sources provide advice to students, and how helpful students perceive that advice to be.

A new research brief from the Urban Institute outlines perspectives by nationally respected scholars and experts regarding some of the most critical issues in higher education, along with recommendations on evidence-based policy solutions. The goal of the report is to offer a framework for what it calls a “principled approach” to the federal role in higher education.

The Effects of Grants on Graduation, Earnings, and Welfare

September 17, 2017

We estimate the effect of grant aid on poor college students’ attainment and earnings using student-level administrative data from four-year public colleges in Texas. To identify these effects, we exploit a discontinuity in grant generosity as a function of family income. Eligibility for the maximum Pell Grant significantly increases degree receipt and earnings beginning four years after entry.

Each year, millions of students enter community colleges looking to earn a credential or degree. A new research brief from Hobsons and the American Council on Education provides recommended approaches for institutions to assess a student’s likelihood of success, as well as recommendations to encourage credential attainment.

Results from the National Household Education Surveys Program of 2016

September 12, 2017

More than one-quarter of Americans hold a non-degree credential such as a certificate or an occupational license or certification, according to new data from the National Center for Education Statistics. And, 21 percent have completed a work experience program such as an internship, residency, or apprenticeship, the report says.

Promising Practices

September 8, 2017

Of the 16.4 million credentials needed by 2025 to meet workforce demands, more than one-third will be drawn from individuals with some college credit and no degree. A new report from the Education Commission of the States examines implementation strategies of three states focused on improving attainment rates for this student population. The study also includes policy recommendations for state leaders as they begin to create legislation or design initiatives to reach near-completers and help them earn a credential.

The High Cost to Students and the State of California

September 8, 2017

California’s community college students face unnecessary barriers on the path to a four-year degree, including confusing and competing policies that result in a small share of students actually transferring to California State University or the University of California, says this report from the Campaign for College Opportunity. The study includes three key recommendations for clearing the transfer maze.

Understanding Part-Time College Students in America

September 6, 2017

Part-time students make up nearly 40 percent of those attending college, yet their graduation rates fall far below those of their full-time peers. A report from the Center for American Progress details what is known about part-time students and their experiences, and explores what still needs to be learned to help them persist on the road to a college credential.

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed
to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision a system
that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a
broad range of credentials. Our goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.